Empathy reviews

‘One of the eye-opening books of 2015 that everyone will be talking about.’Oprah’s Book Club

‘Informative and practical, Krznaric’s techniques are easy to incorporate into daily life and provide a road map toward better rapport with both people we know and strangers on the street. Useful advice that promotes a more contented, fulfilling lifestyle.’ Kirkus Reviews

‘Empathy explores the essence of being human…inspiring, fascinating and helpful.’ Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness and Buddha’s Brain

‘Eloquent and inspiring writer.’ Mary Anne Hobbs, DJ and broadcaster

‘An absorbing, inspiring book that could start a revolution. Read it.’ Philippa Perry, psychotherapist and author of How to Stay Sane

‘Krznaric’s “handbook” is not only timely but essential. Neither deprecatory nor utopian, it poses just the right mix of scepticism and optimism.’ Ashraf Jamal, Business Day, South Africa

‘I know it is absurdly early in the year to be choosing the top book of the year, but here goes. I recommend Empathy by Roman Krznaric for both the quality of the content and its importance.’ Mike Childs, Head of Policy, Friends of the Earth

‘Roman Krznaric’s ideas on empathy challenge each one of us to see the world afresh, and in doing so he offers us the chance to become so much greater than we already are.’ John-Paul Flintoff, journalist and author of How to Change the World

‘An extraordinary understanding of the importance of utilizing empathy in our every day life, has been translated into vital guide for personal wellbeing and professional success.’ Patricia Moore, industrial designer and gerontologist

‘A mesmerizing mélange of history, social science, neuroscience, psychology and sociology. Krznaric is calling for nothing short of an empathy revolution and paints a compelling and practical picture of how to get there. His concept of an “Empathy Museum” is as brilliant as he is.’ Mary Gordon, Founder/President, Roots of Empathy

‘Moving across, and between, disciplines, Krznaric casts his net far and wide and the resulting haul is an impressive sight’ Richard King, The Australian

‘The need for empathy, even more than sympathy, will become more urgent as globalisation brings increasingly chill winds in the lives of those who have lived comfortably in the West…Krznaric’s book could help fast-forward the discussions we will have to have.’ Miriam Cosic, Australian Book Review

‘Krznaric traces the age of self-interest back to the 18th century, and he begs us to reconsider our assumptions about the ways we think, behave and interact. We are social creatures and we have ignored the instinct for sociable communalism at the expense of our culture and our world. Fascinating stuff.’ Walter Mason, Good Reading Magazine

‘In his best-selling self help manual, Roman promotes the idea that empathy is at the heart of being human, and so by helping others we can help ourselves feel better too.’ Sarah Holmes, Woman & Home

‘Roman Krznaric explains that understanding why others behave as they do is the key to a happier, more fulfilled life’. Health & Fitness Magazine.

‘Empathy: A Handbook for Revolutionis a fascinating look at empathy not just as a positive trait, but also as a powerful force for good and social change.’Practical Parenting Australia magazine

‘It’s difficult not to be swept up by Krznaric’s wave of optimism. The ideas and thought processes that buoy them are highly accessible and discerning.’ Jen Vuk, Eureka Street

‘Like the popular works of Bertrand Russell and Alain de Botton it’s easy to read, and it tackles the sort of every day philosophical issues that ordinary people think about.’ Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers

‘In this inspiring read, philosopher Roman Krzanric explore the power of empathy as an ideal, rather than an emotion, that has the power to transform relationships.’ Kindness UK

‘At a time when it is all too easy to despair about human nature, this book reminds us of what we can ‘be’ and ‘do’ when we are at our best, and the urgency of trying to do this.’ Monica Lanyado, UK Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum

‘A stimulating read and will give the reader much food for thought about how we can all do our part to bring about a more empathic world.’ Professor Richard Harris, Manhattan Mercury

‘An accessible text based on wide reading, astute observation and sensible thinking. Krznaric gives the kind of sound advice that would support the leaders of any modern organisation.’International Teacher Magazine

‘This is not some kind of ‘hippy-dippy’ 7 Signs You’re an Empath article explaining that you’re okay maaaan, you’re just feeling things. This is a book which discusses a real life situation: A deficit in how much emotional education there is available in the world, and how we can combat our lack of empathy as a race.’ Ellen Bourne

How to Find Fulfilling Work media

Podcast on How to Find Fulfilling Work. A big-picture overview of the book, focusing on experiential learning and being a wide achiever. Interview at Smart People Podcast (starts 5 minutes in, lasts 40 minutes).

How to Find Fulfilling Work reviews

‘Leaving your job in search of more fulfilling opportunities is one of life’s most intimidating jumps, and Roman Krznaric’s How to Find Fulfilling Work is an indispensable handbook.’ Peter Holmes a Court in the Australian Financial Review.

‘This latest entry from Picador’s School of Life series is a home run, a good read for new college graduates, quarter-life crisis sufferers, and anyone who wants to make a career change but doesn’t quite know how.’ BookRiot

‘Useful suggestions on how to test out new professions in your spare time without making a commitment.‘ Publishers Weekly

‘Krznaric’s ability to break down ideas into their small and more easily managed parts makes this a tremendous read.’The Good Men Project

‘Packed with suggestions for ways to transform stagnation into inspiration. It will slip easily into a purse or a back pocket. What are you waiting for?’Dayton Daily News

‘Anyone interested in meaningful, well-balanced living will love this pithy guide.’Bas Bleu

‘Roman’s positive spin on all our career confusion is that the economic uncertainties we find ourselves living in today actually provide us with the impetus to find a new way of working that represents the many sides of who we are. The portfolio life as a legitimate career choice – it sounds good to me.’ Simon Harper in the Huffington Post.

‘The biggest overall takeaway from Krznaric’s short but impactful book is that there is no one path for everyone, and there are no right answers.’Entomology of a Bookworm

‘Whether you’re looking for fulfilling work in a creative field or a business one, this teeny-tiny book will help point you in the right direction.’The Airship

‘How to Find Fulfilling Work is by far the best book I’ve read on finding a career that you enjoy. I love it because it’s practical, shares real stories and science, and it just makes a whole lot of sense to me. A self-help book without the fluff, positive affirmations, and uncovering your childhood trauma. This is self-help for thinking people.’Jo Savill

‘I did it, I quit my job and your book is all to blame. I’m thrilled with my decision though, so thanks for inspiring me.’ International publishing executive

‘I loved How to Find Fufilling Work. I always thought I was a failure across mass career fields…but behold I was just a wide achiever!!’Afshin Dehkordi, artist and lecturer, University of the Creative Arts (via Twitter)

‘Krznaric shows you how to discover your vocation – perhaps even your mojo!’Robert Ashton, author and social entrepreneur

‘How to Find Fulfilling Work should be given free to every 14-year-old at secondary school. What I would’ve given for this sort of guidance at that stage in my life.’ A. Lau (5 star Amazon Review)

‘For a small book it really gets to the heart of the matter and guides you with practical suggestions to find your own way to work and life fulfilment. This book really spoke to me like no other career guidance book and I would highly recommend it.’ S. Stone (5 star Amazon Review

‘If you’re someone who wants to follow their own path in life, but you’re just too worried about making the jump – this book is for you. A very liberating read.’Rupert Denyer, graphic design executive turned painter (5 star Amazon Review)

‘How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric helped me decide what kind of business I wanted to run.’Dominique Caron, Design Sponge

‘By combining philosophy and practical advice with an easy-to-read writing style, Krznaric both challenges and educates the reader without sounding overly preachy. Whether you’re between jobs, thinking about making a career switch or deciding on a post-graduation career, this wise little book will provide valuable insights into the quest for meaningful employment.’Teach.com blog

‘A stellar shelf of intellectual firepower and easy communicators.’ Tom Kelly reviews The School of Life book series in the Irish Times.

The Wonderbox media

What might we learn about life from an eighteenth-century feminist firebrand and a wandering Zen poet? In this article in The Huffington Post – based on The Wonderbox – I profile my Five Icons for Better Living in 2012.

Why do men find it so hard to talk about love? Here are some thoughts in The Telegraph.

In this podcast on ABC Radio National in Australia, I talk to Geraldine Doogue about The Wonderbox, especially the forgotten history of the senses.

An interview at The Browser, where I talk about five books to inspire adventurous living in 2012 – and which inspired The Wonderbox too. From tales of tramping the streets of East London to life lessons from a Holocaust survivor.

Have we lost sight of the sanctity of death? In this appearance on the 4thought slot on Channel 4, I draw on ideas in The Wonderbox to discuss why it is so important for us to have conversations about death – and reflect on my mother’s death when I was a child, and a Mayan death ritual I witnessed in the Guatemalan jungle.

In this author profile and review of The Wonderbox in The Australian, I discuss how growing up in a multicultural household in Sydney – including watching my Polish father play poker with his Eastern European mates – shaped the way I think about the art of living.

In this podcast interview with Pat Kenny on RTE Radio 1 in Ireland, I discuss – amongst other things – Henry David Thoreau’s idea that ‘a man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone’.

This is a feature article in Psychologies Magazine about my attempts at conversational travel, including some fine fuzzy photos of me on holiday as a teenager.

Here’s a review of a talk I gave on The Wonderbox at the Swindon Festival of Literature. The first and surely the only time I’ll ever be described as ‘the Brian Cox of philosophy’.

In this podcast for BBC History Magazine I discuss The Wonderbox, and what we can learn about the good life from Aka pygmies, nineteenth-century organists and even Spanish conquistadors. And why did Goethe say, ‘he who cannot draw on three thousand years is living from hand to mouth’?

Why is the PhD one of the most disastrous inventions of modern times? And why do I want I want to found the world’s first Empathy Museum? The answers appear in this interview in the Belgian magazine Knack Weekend (brush up your Dutch for this one).

An article in the Irish Independent, where I offer ideas for rethinking our holidays, such as making a ‘personal pilgrimage’.

An extract from the chapter on Love chronicling the six different varieties, at UTNE Reader

How to be more outrospective – a slideshow article about empathy at Glo magazine.

‘Taking one hefty theme per chapter – such as love, work or home – Krznaric serves up a fascinating series of accounts of how we got where we are now, sifting the valuable from the worthless with an impressive indifference to current fashions. After reading The Wonderbox, endlessly shopping for stuff you already have will seem distinctly strange.’Reader’s Digest, selected as the January 2012 Recommended Read

‘The author’s enthusiasm for direct solutions to modern dilemmas is infectious.’ Sue Gerhardt, author of Why Love Matters and The Selfish Society

‘Ranging from such lofty issues as love and death to the finer points of carpentry, Krznaric offers a compendium of fascinating and quirky anecdotes and character studies, refiguring them as practical fables for everyday life. Though a pleasure to read cover-to-cover, this book lends itself perfectly to the occasional reader looking for workable solutions to any dilemma. The scope of the stories and the versatility of Krznaric’s interpretations are at once fascinating and illuminating.’ Emily Best, We Love This Book

‘This modern guide to living a good life by nurturing relationships, giving more to others, and resisting the self-imposed tyrannies of work, time, ambition and achievement, is entertaining and instructive.’ Iain Finlayson, The Times

‘A pot-pourri of delights. Krznaric has a genuine skill in examining aspects of life that most people take for granted and he can make the reader look at them again from a fresh and new angle. The chapter on the senses was intriguing and made me look at an everyday aspect of life in a truly new way. The range and breadth of learning on display in this book is combined with a chatty style that makes it an easy and delightful read.’ Five-star review, Clare Reddaway, The Bookbag

‘The Wonderbox is a beautifully lucid book of provocations to freedom of mind and spirit. Krznaric writes in a most engaging, down-to-earth manner, without fear or favour, but also without humbug or pretension. This book is neatly structured and covers so much everyday ground so thoughtfully one could almost urge: “Read this book a chapter at a time, a week at a time, and let its reflective observations slowly fertilise the way you see your life. Above all, don’t rush through it.”‘ Paul Monk, The Australian

‘History has the answers if we care to listen to them – a premise so simple it is surprising no one has highlighted it before. Krznaric selects some of the most telling, assembling them in a Wunderkammer or cabinet of curiosities.’ James Attlee, The Independent

‘A guaranteed pick-me-up for the early days of January! And a book I’m going to be returning to for years.’ Clare English, BBC Radio Scotland Book Cafe

‘Not many self-help gurus would advise you to chuck in your job, throw away your wrist watch and spend time living on the streets…A grab bag of bon mots and life lessons taken from the greatest minds in history.’ Jasper Hamill, The Big Issue

‘A good read with lots of food for thought.’ Padraig O’Morain, Irish Times

‘A fascinating exploration of humanity that is heady and compelling without being pretentious or patronising. Even readers with a phobia of self-help books will find plenty of philosophical meat here to chew on, and the author’s straightforward prose and dry humour make the journey entertaining. Ambitious, but it works.’ Terry Oberg, Brisbane Courier-Mail

‘It’s easy to see how modern life could get us down. But fret not: Roman Krznaric’s new book The Wonderbox provides solace. He delves into the lives of social, economic and cultural historians to track down ideas from the past that could help us lead a happier life in the Western world today.’ Helen Brown, Elle Decoration magazine

‘What is love? Help has come from the author Roman Krznaric in his new book The Wonderbox, a kind of self-help manual that uses historical precedent to shine an old light on new problems. Mr Krznaric’s service is to break down love into the six varieties recognised by the Ancient Greeks. A great guide for the confused in love.’ Tom Hodgkinson, The Independent on Sunday

‘Krznaric is just what you’d want from a guide on a historical tour of the good life: knowledgeable, congenial company, and passionate about his subject.’ A beguiling mixture of lightly worn scholarship and unashamedly eclectic offerings, the book is driven by Krznaric’s unshakable optimism about daily life’s improvability.’ Rebecca Abrams, The Jewish Chronicle

‘Inspiration for bold experiments in living.’ Review and author profile in The Oxford Times

‘Roman Krznaric delves into the wonderbox of history…and reveals how the past can prompt us to aim higher than we do.’ London Metro.

‘A fascinating book – and an illuminating canter through places and epochs – that uses history to inform us about our lives and to help fill the spiritual vacuum that haunts the 21st century.’ Miriam Cosic, The Australian

‘Krznaric’s discussion of the ancient Greeks’ understanding of the many varieties of love from eros and ludus to philia and agape is an example of shades of emotion that we’ve lost and could rediscover. As philosophy, it’s an intriguing, if idiosyncratic, approach. Krznaric encourages us to fossick around in his curiosity cabinet for whatever life lessons we find useful or appealing.’ Fiona Capp, Melbourne Age

‘Brim-full of insights drawn not from philosophy, religious teachings or psychology but drawing on the writing and lives of great writers including Tolstoy, Thoreau and Orwell. Krznaric weaves together a compelling, fresh argument about how we conduct our relationships, make decisions about the life we lead and the crucial importance of empathy.’ Steve Moore, CEO The Big Society Network

‘The Wonderbox is a treasury of history and philosophy that manages also to be truly, practically motivational.’ John-Paul Flintoff, author of Sew Your Own

‘The pages of the Wonderbox are crammed with inspirational stories.’ James Cronin, Reviews in History

‘There are fascinating essays on family life, empathy, making a living, and nature – and the chapter on ‘Deathstyle’ was a real eye-opener. It should certainly be in every preacher’s library’.Canon George Burgon

‘Roman Krznaric redefines the self-help book with thoughtful historical analysis of how life should be lived.’ Thomas H. Brennan, ForeWord Reviews

‘This is a wonderful book, filled with ideas and historical precedent to help shed light on this new and often chaotic world we live in.’ Axie Barclay, San Francisco Book Review

‘Krznaric…does a wonderful job of explaining the connection between philosophers of the past and our modern world.’ Library Journal

Why aren’t we given life handbooks when we are born or at least one college course in how to live? Krznaric made me think about what’s really important in this life.’ Linda Barber, Philadelphia Review of Books

‘Krznaric is unabashed in his prescriptions for good living, beautifully supported by his examples. His writing is engaging and interesting, and flows easily across history from the ancient past to the modern world.’ Gretchen Wagner, San Diego Book Review